11 Ways to Get Your Kids Excited About the Election

To raise a global, well-informed citizen, try these ideas to engage children big and small in the United States' biggest political event: the presidential election. Politics just got a lot more kid-friendly.

Take your kids to vote

Take your kids to vote

If your parents took you to polls with them, it's likely a fond memory that you tap into every time you vote. Share this with your children by voting during before- or after-school hours, and bringing them along. You'll send the message that part of being a good citizen is participating in one's democracy, and they'll get a kick out of pulling the lever. Snap photos of your family at the polls, and share them with other REDBOOK readers on Facebook, on Pinterest using the hashtag #kidsvote, on Twitter @Redbookmag with the hashtag #kidsvote, and on Instagram with the hasthag #kidsvote.

Turn on the debate

Turn on the debate

The final presidential debate airs after bedtime, so set the DVR for 9 p.m. EDT tonight, October 22, and make a family date to watch it tomorrow. If you have time, screen the footage to cull it down to the most important, easy-to-grasp segments, and use them to show your kids what each candidate stands for. "They understand tone and intention even if they don't get the issue," says Homa Tavangar, author of Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World. "If a nine-year-old can understand, that's a good gauge of how clear a candidate is being."